Naidu Slams Congress for Dragging PMO in National Herald Issue

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley denied Government’s role in framing the charges of “financial misappropriation” against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. And as and when Parliament functions and the government is ready to accept our amendments, we can discuss it. The Congress’ concerns remain pro-industry, pro-trade and very much pro-consumer. In a blogpost, he explained in detail the said case, including the why of the charge that the Congress leadership was guilty of diverting Rs 90 crore of tax-exempt political funds to a Section 25 (non-profit) company whose only current source of income is from real estate. Tax exempted money effectively gets transferred to a real estate company. Mr Subramaniam Swamy in his personal way of political life has filed a case against them in a Court of Law and case is proceeding.

Congress leaders are meeting on Sunday to assess the situation and finalise their strategy for the next week. On Monday this week, the high court refused to stay the summons, and asked all of the accused to appear for a hearing on December 19. “They can either challenge the order in the Supreme Court or appear before the trial court and contest the case on merits”, Jaitley said.

The NCP leader also backed the protests launched by the grand old party, saying they were entitled to agitate to expose the hidden motivation of vendetta behind the case.

“They have acquired properties worth huge amounts without spending anything”.

The government had yet to take any punitive action.

In an exclusive interview to India TV, Chidambaram clarified that the parliament was not being stalled because of the ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation in the National Herald Case. Its claim, therefore, that the Narendra Modi government is no more than a bystander in the face-off between the Congress’s big guns and Swamy, who is a member of the BJP’s national executive, will not be widely believed.

No wonder, in a scenario where they have everything to lose, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi have gone to the extent of turning a legal battle into a political and parliamentary one.

He said a vibrant democracy requires Jan Bhaagidaari – the participation of the people.

He also there were several measures other than the crucial GST bill that were pending in parliament for the poor. “The government has not interfered in it”, he said.

Posting his comments on Facebook, Jaitley was apparently referring to the Congress plea against summons issued to Sonia, her son Rahul Gandhi and others, which was dismissed by Delhi High Court.

Modi said the government is requesting that the Parliament be allowed to function. It was the same when opposition parties sought the removal of Union minister VK Singh for his offensive remark about Dalits, Azad remarked.